Passionate About Cocker Spaniels!

All You Need To Know About Caring For Your Cocker Spaniel

I love Cocker Spaniels - they are my passion!

For me, it's the soft floppy ears, soulful brown eyes and an ever-cheerful curiosity and enthusiasm, that make them simply irresistible!

My passion for Cocker Spaniels is the reason I created this website, and my aim is to provide all you need to help your puppy grow into a happy, healthy, well-mannered dog.

The photo to the right is my faithful companion, Max, and we'd like to welcome you to the best on-line guide to owning and caring for your dog - from his early puppy days right through to his senior years.

You may be new to puppy care, you may have owned Spaniels for years and like to refresh your memory, or you may simply want to enjoy looking at lots of cute puppy pictures of Cocker Spaniels, (and older dogs too!) - whichever it is, you can do all that, and more, here!

'Your Dog Pictures' page is dedicated to you and your Cockers, so why not send me a photograph and a few details about your best buddy and I'll feature him or her on my website?

You'll find a taste of what's on our site below, and as it's regularly updated with new material, I recommend you bookmark us (so we don't get lost!) and continue to visit as often as you wish!

Cocker Spaniel Puppy Care

You may be about to bring your new puppy home, in which case you'll probably have lots of questions that need answers, and quickly!

There's rather a lot to learn about owning a puppy, and you may be feeling pretty anxious, but don't worry, I'll help you to set up a solid routine for him.

My new puppy care guide will give you all you need to know about looking after your little boy (or girl)!

All areas of puppy ownership are covered, including essential help with feeding, house-training, bath-time and grooming, sleeping, playtime, and most important of all, puppy socialisation.

How To Train Your Cocker Spaniel Puppy

You love your new pup and you want him to be a well-mannered, obedient little boy, (or girl) right?

Right! But it's not always that simple, is it?

An untrained puppy can (and usually does!) get up to all sorts of mischief and if left untrained, can develop some pretty unsociable behaviours.

That's why it's important to begin his training as early as possible - teach him what's acceptable and what's unacceptable behaviour.

Puppy training can sometimes be frustrating, especially when it's obvious he doesn't understand what you want from him, but it's up to us to help him understand.

These tips on training your puppy will help you to get the best out of training your Spaniel and will save you lots of time and heartache!

If you've chosen to house your puppy in a crate (which I heartily recommend), this step-by-step guide will show you how to crate train your puppy.

He may not be fully house-trained when you bring him home so toilet training is probably going to be a priority. Crating can help, but this practical guide to potty training will have him house-trained in no time at all!

Your next priority might be to teach him a few simple obedience training exercises such as 'sit', 'stand', and 'down' - your first step to an obedient little puppy.

Puppy training can be very rewarding, especially when you get it right, but it should be fun too. If the training gets too intense, lighten up a little by teaching your pet to play a few puppy games.

Cocker Spaniel Puppies And Socialization

Socializing your puppy is the process of gradually exposing him to everyday sounds, sights, and experiences until he becomes totally familiar and at ease with them.

Socialization is a vital part of your puppy's training and development, especially if he's to develop into a well-behaved, happy, adult dog - I really can't emphasize this too much!

If your pup isn't thoroughly socialized he may grow up to be a very nervous and timid dog - jumping at the slightest noise or sudden movement, shying away from contact of any kind - in fact, a total scaredy-dog!

More importantly, an under-socialized puppy will grow up to be an unhappy dog and his fear and anxiety may cause temperament problems, resulting in bad behaviour, perhaps even aggression, so it's really important to get it right!

Grooming Cocker Spaniels To Look Their Best!

Naturally, you'll want your puppy's coat to look clean, healthy, and in great condition (and you'll want him to smell nice too!).

A good diet always helps, but if you check your dog's coat regularly, and brush him daily, paying special attention to those feathers when they begin to grow in, you'll certainly get the results you're looking for!

Professional dog groomers can work out quite expensive, so if money's tight, why not learn how to groom him yourself and save some hard-earned cash in the process?

You'll find lots of useful tips and advice on all aspects of grooming your dog, as well as a guide to which grooming tools are essential to keep your Spaniel's coat looking healthy and in tip-top condition.

Cocker Spaniel Health Problems

Your Cocker Spaniel's health is very important and as loving owners we do our level best to ensure our dogs remain healthy at all times.

One particular problem area for this breed is their pendulous ears - they may be beautiful, but they're prone to stubborn ear infections and need to be kept scrupulously clean to keep bacteria and infection at bay.

And let's not forget dog fleas and dog ticks - just hearing those words makes me want to scratch!

Getting rid of fleas by using a regular flea treatment will not only ensure your dog's coat is free from these pesky parasites, but that your home is a flee free zone too!

There are many illnesses that can befall your pet, (too many to list here!) but there are steps we can take to keep them to an absolute minimum.

Good grooming habits and regular exercise are essential, and you can help to boost your dog's health by making sure his diet is wholesome and nutritious.

Looking For General Information About Cocker Spaniels?

You can read about their history, their breed characteristics, and that infamous gentle Cocker Spaniel temperament, all of which make this breed an ideal companion or family pet.

Our interesting article (complete with lots of pictures) detailing the differences between the English and the American Cocker Spaniel, may help you to decide which one's your favourite.

You can also learn about their luxuriously silky coats, which can be seen in a variety of beautiful colours and markings.

In fact, if you're looking for general background information on this breed, you'll find it here!

Site Navigation

There's much more to this website than I can possibly mention here, on the homepage.

To explore the site you can use the navigation buttons to the left of each page or to see a list of all the web pages, you can browse the Site-Map.

Alternatively, if you're looking for something specific, you can always try using the handy search box which you'll find in the top left-hand corner of every page.

I'm always adding new material so please come back and visit us often to find out what's new, and if you've any ideas for additions or improvements to the site, I'd love to hear them.

One last thing I need you to know - I'm not a veterinary, a dog behaviour therapist, nor am I a breeder - I'm simply a dog lover with a passion for Cocker Spaniels and a great deal of knowledge and experience that I'd like to share with you.

If you have any immediate concerns about the health or welfare of your Cocker Spaniel, I urge you to speak to your veterinary immediately.

I sincerely hope you come in for a while and enjoy browsing through my website!

Kind regards,

Pauline

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Photo Credits - In order of viewing:

1. Copyright of About Cocker Spaniels.com
2. Lilun at http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photography-puppy-image22226282
3. Cynoclub at http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-puppy-cocker-spaniel-image13830379
4. Olga Yastremska at http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photos-puppy-cocker-spaniel-image18581268
5. Willeecole at http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-cocker-spaniel-puppy-park-image9961159
6. Thearle at http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photos-puppy-cocker-spaniel-blue-roan-image7837238
7. Olga Yastremska at http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-images-puppy-cocker-spaniel-image18581224